What bullets seat the deepest for a given throat length (or does it also vary for a given throat length also?)? I have a 7x57 with a long throat and would like to seat the bullet out as far as possible while still having enough bullet in the case?

I know that because one bullet is longer it does not mean it will seat as deep.

Thanks for any help.

David

DKim: I am the proud owner of a CZ 550 American in 7x57mm Mauser. It has a 1X8.66 twist barrel, which means it stabilizes the heavier bullets (160 gr)a lot better than the lighter ones (120. I has a very, very, very long throat and I too was searching for the one bullet that I could seat in the case and get close to the lands. I have found two of them. One is the 162 grain Hornady SST. The full contact shank portion of the bullet has just a .173 inch contact with the case, but it seems to be enough. The overall length is something like 3.295 inches when the bullet is just .01 inch off the lands and it looks funny as hell with a whole gob of bullet sticking out the front of the case. It looks funny as hell because the canlure is way out of the case. But that sucker shoots. Loaded with 48.9 grains of H414 and seated .01 inch off the lands in my rifle, it puts three shots into a .481 inch group, and that is quite often. Of course, it is not always .481, but it is right around that size enough. One time I shot a .216 inch group with it and a sandbag rest. The other bullet is a 160 grain Nosler Partition. It is a flatbase and long enough to seat deep in the case. I am able to get .75 or there abouts three shot groups with it and 48.3 grains of H414. With the 162 Hornady load my chronograph gives me an average of 2,855 fps and with the partition and 48.3 grain load it spits them out of the barrel at an average of 2,815 fps. What make 7x57 do you own? Tom Purdom

The Nosler 160grn Accubond is very long and lean. I had to stick more than I liked of it down into my 7WSM case to get it down to magazine length. BM

Bill

In a word Barnes. Barnes bullets because they are not made of lead tend to be longer than other brands of the same weight. Not only that they may work well in your application as they like to have a good bit of freebore. Usually start at .050" off the lands and work in(towards touching lands)or out just a bit(seated deeper). I usually go in .005" increments until I am happy with how the rifle prints. having said that some rifles really don't like Barnes Bullets so if they don't work don't bother trying to make them work.

The Nosler AB has got to be the longest of the 160gr. The bt on it is also shallow so that might be a good bet for your 7x57.

Thanks for all of the responses.

Tom - I have an Interarms Mark X. It's a nice rifle. The Mark X has a custom barrel and is very accurate.

I think I may give the Nosler Accubond a try to start, and I would also like to the others bullets suggested.

I wish there was a place you could custom order small quantities of various bullets. I've thought about that as a mail order business. To try all these suggestions with new purchases will cost close to $100. What do you think?

Thanks again,
David